Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Brisbane.

Terrell Hills Mid Century Modern Project

In the dining room, we added a walnut bar with an antique gold toekick and antique gold hardware, along with an enclosed tall walnut cabinet for storage. The tall dining room cabinet also conceals a vertical steel structural beam, while providing valuable storage space. The original dining room cabinets had been whitewashed and they also featured many tiny drawers and damaged drawer glides that were no longer practical for storage. So, we removed them and built in new cabinets that look as if they have always been there. The new walnut bar features geometric wall tile that matches the kitchen backsplash. The walnut bar and dining cabinets breathe new life into the space and echo the tones of the wood walls and cabinets in the adjoining kitchen and living room. Finally, our design team finished the space with MCM furniture, art and accessories.

Mid Century Portland

Risa Boyer Architecture

Lincoln Barbour
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Portland with concrete floors and multi-coloured floor.

Terrasse avec piscine

FloBuild

This is an example of an eclectic dining room in Dijon with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Casadecor 2020

Fotógrafo de arquitectura e interiores Pablo Sanz

Mid-sized contemporary dining room in Madrid with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

North Castle St

ZAC and ZAC - Photography

© ZAC and ZAC
This is an example of a large transitional dining room in Edinburgh with multi-coloured walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, beige floor and wallpaper.

First & Main Modern

Turk Interiors

Tricia Turk
Small modern dining room in Denver.

River Ridge - Southwick

Mary Cook

Taylor Photo
This is an example of a transitional dining room in Chicago with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Traditional Homes

RDM General Contractors

Photo of a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Orange County with black walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Seattle Houseboat -- a Floating Home Renovation

MLB Design Group

A new acacia wood floor is beautiful. All interior walls are finished with cedar and vertical grain fir details. The homeowner reads and works at home frequently, so this desk space is much used.

Seeley Dining Room

Michael Abrams Interiors

This is an example of a traditional dining room in Chicago with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Colorful Dining Room

Ann Lowengart Interiors

To eliminate an inconsistent layout, we removed the wall dividing the dining room from the living room and added a polished brass and ebonized wood handrail to create a sweeping view into the living room. To highlight the family’s passion for reading, we created a beautiful library with custom shelves flanking a niche wallpapered with Flavor Paper’s bold Glow print with color-coded book spines to add pops of color. Tom Dixon pendant lights, acrylic chairs, and a geometric hide rug complete the look.

Greenwood, Mar Vista

Interior Particulier

Mid-sized eclectic open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Fishing Camp | Blue Ridge

Meriwether Design Group

This is an example of a country dining room in Atlanta.

Rénovation maison de bord de mer

Home by Marie

Chambre convertie en bureau à la maison.
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style dining room in Nantes with light hardwood floors, brown floor and orange walls.

Traditional Custom Craftsman

Beck Builders, Inc.

Arts and crafts dining room in Other.

Edina House

CHRISTIAN DEAN ARCHITECTURE, LLC

Dining room with wood burning stove, floor to ceiling sliding doors to deck. Concrete walls with picture hanging system. Photo:Chad Holder
Photo of a modern open plan dining in Minneapolis with dark hardwood floors and a wood stove.

Fisher Street Residence

Chris Barrett Design

This is an example of a modern kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Main Floor and Primary Bathroom Remodel in Redmond, WA

Nip Tuck Remodeling

Photo of a transitional kitchen/dining combo in Seattle with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Mid-Century Raised Ranch Remodel

The Artisans Group, Inc.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

Orange Dining Room Design Ideas

A dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!